Tunnel-mask.



J. C. RHODES, GrEi GUFFEY' 6i 1 G. SHEEH'AN.

TUNNEL M SK. APPLICATION HLED JULY H. I91].

Patented Apr. 9,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

n w v Arroniuzv J. C. RHODES, G. E. GUFFEY &I. G. SHEEHAN.

TUNNEL MASK.

' APPLICATION- FILED IULY Hp l ll- 1,262,566. Patented Apr. 9,1918.

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. INVENTORS ATTORNEY mospheric 'hange UNITED STATES PATENT oFFio aosnrn c. nnonns, enonen E. enrrn Ann minus 6. snnnnen, or DANVILLE,

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TUNNEL-MASK.

messes.

Application filed-July 11,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat Josnrn C. 'Rnoons,

State.

7 the following is a specification.

This invention relates to masks designed for use by engineers and other trai'nmen for protection against gases usually encountered in tunnels andalso as a protection against intense heat and escaping steam, or from flying glass caused by the breaking of the water glass, the mask being designed to protect the head of the wearer under any and all conditions.

The primary objectof the invention is to provide a head prot'eotingmas which will supply fresh air to the wearer from a suit able source, suchas from a compressed air valve to the locomotive, theair passing from the interior of the mask through a-heat 1nsulating chamber formed by a double wall, so that a current of fresh air is continually supplied to the mask andwill prevent the heat from passing through the walls and at the same time supply fresh air to the wearer to avoid sufiocatlon.

Another object is to provide means at the point of entrance of the air into the insulating chamber, to muflle the sound incidentto such entrance, so that the hearing. of. the wearer will not be i terfered with.

The mask also pro ides protection for the ears-against harsh sounds of the engine exhaust within the tunnel and the sudden at due to the engine leaving said tunnel. I

- The invention further provision of novel 'means body of the mask by cutting the outer surrounding wall from a single piece of fabric and providing it with gores to form the top and lining said walls with fabric secured along its top and bottom edges to form a surrounding air or. insulating chamber. a With the above and other objects in views the invention consists of the following novel combination and arrangement of parts, here inafter more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a' perspective view of a mask contemplates the Specification of Letters Patent:

residing at.

ful

for forming the another piece of- J Patented Apr..9, was. 1917. Seria1No.'l79,901.

constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 1s a rear elevation of the same;

i Fig. '3 is a central vertical sectional view,

a head being shown by dotted lines; F g; 4 is a horizontal section; and F1g. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectlonalview through the inlet port of the air chamber," illustrating the muffler located therein and a contiguous part of the sup? plport..

ferring to parts throughout the several views.

The inventionin its practical form consists of an outer casing formed from a single piece of material, cut wall 10,- the upper portion of which is gored as indicated at 11, in order that the same .may be formed into the top 12. The outer wall isformed intoa substantially circular casing by means ofthe back seam 13, the mask being of. a convenient size to incase the head andextend downward to the shoulders of thewearer. The casing further includes an-inner wall 14 cut from a-single piece of material and which extends upward and is secured to the outer wall along its top edge, at thepoint of juncture of the outer wall with the top 12, the securing means being formed of stitches 15. The lower edge of both the innerand outer walls is formed with front and rear downwardly. extending points 16 and 17 respectively, to provide upon each side of the mask shoulder receiving recesses 18. The lower edges of the inner and outer walls of the mask are secured together by a binding 19, stitched thereto, so that these two walls provide a surrounding air space or insulating chamber 20 entirely surrounding the mask.

the drawings in detail, like characters of reference denote corresponding to provide an outer l.

The chamber 20 is provided with an inlet port 21, preferably at the front portion of the mask and secured within this port-by means of a plate 22 and the packing 23, is an air supply pipe 24, the'plate 22 being-riveted to a similar plate secured upon the interior of the chamber 20, while the packing 23 is stitched to the outer "wall 10;

The air supply pipe 24 is provided with a threaded'end 25, for connec ion with a union 26, by means of ipe 24 a flexible supply have suitable connection which there is secured to the pipe 27, adapted to with the comthrough the ports ous supply of fresh air pressed air valve of a locomotive or any other suitable source of supply, through the medium of a flexible nipple 28. The union by means of which the pipe 27 is secured to the pipe 24 is provided with the usual gland 29, in order to provide an air tight connection between these two pipes. he inner wall 14 of the chamber 20 is provided with a plurality of spaced outlet ports 30, which establish connection between the said chamber .and the interior of the mask, so that air supplied to the inlet port 21 will circulate through the chamber 20 around 'the head of the wearer of the mask, escaping into the interior thereof 30, providing a continuto the wearer and also providing a surrounding insulating wall of cool air, for the purpose of protecting the head from heat.

In order to deaden the noise of the compressed air entering the chamber 20, there is provided at the inlet port 21 an air filtering a rent of fresh 1n the inner and mufiing element 31, shown in the present instance in the form of a sponge, the air" entering and passing through this sponge in its passage into the chamber 20, thereby effectually deadening and mufiling the sound of its entrance.

Various changes in the form, proportion and details of construction may be made, for example, the air connection of the mask need not be by fireman.

that-the invention profor the uses and purposes specified and when inflated the inner casing will expand within the space between the outer casing I wearer,

and comfortably around the face and neck, except at the point of the seam 13, so as to cause the mask to adhere and conform to the movements of the wearers head, keeping the lenses in proper position before the eyes and closing the opening around the neck to prevent the entrance of heat and g By these means the fresh an" entering through the openings around the head of the wearer will Wardly and out through the vided along the seam l3,'the constant ourair preventing the entrance of foul air into the mask through said passage. r

Located within the walls of the mask are side openings 32, which are covered by glass closures 33, which enable the wearer of the mask to see without exposin the eyes to the danger of cinders' or ot er particles. An additional outlet port 34 is provided wall of the mask, in a position fresh air to the nose of the pass downpassage pro;

to supply wearer.

. material and provided positioned at the front, this being the preferred location, when used ea It will be seen an outer wall cut from a vldes a simple and efficient protecting mask material and provided with rounding air chamber,

By locating the outlet upper edge of the surrounding air chamber, the air enters the interior ,of the mask at a point adjacent the top thereof and is forced downwardly along the line of the seam 13, passing out at the bottom and keeping a current of fresh air passing over the head and face of the wearer. I

For convenience, the mask may be provided with means for hanging up the same when not in use, which comprises a ring 40 secured to a tab juncture of the gores 11.

It is believed that from the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation and advantages of the invention will be apparent. The right is reserved to make such changes in the form and pro.- portion thereof as will fall within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A mask embodying a casing including an outer wall cut from a single piece of with gores to form the top of the mask, an inner wall cut from a single piece of material and secured aloing its top andbottom edges within the outer wall to form a surrounding insulating chamber, an inlet port for said chamber and outlet ports also formed in said chamor loop41 sewed at the her and communicating with the interior of the mask.

2. A mask embodying a casin lncludlng gores for forming the .top of the mask, an inner wall cut from a' single piece of material and secured along its top and bottom edges within the puter wall to form a surrounding insulating chamber, an inlet port for said chamsinge piece of her and outlet ports also formed in said chamber and communicating with the intop thereof.

3. A mask embodying a casing includmg inner and outer walls secured along their .the inlet port for mufiing the sound of the entering air.

inner and outer walls secured along their upper and lower edges to provide a suran inlet port for said chamber, outlet ports also provided in said chamber interior of the, mask and means including a filtering element located at the entering air.

- terior of the mask at a point adjacent the,

13.20. d. A mask embodying a casing including I and communicating with the A the entrance.., I of the inlet port for mufiling the sound of chamber,

chamber and communicating with the in- 5. A mask embodying a casing including inner and outer Walls secured along their upper and lower edges to provide a surrounding air chamber, an inlet port for. said outlet ports also provided in said teriorof the mask and means includlng a sponge located at the entrance of the inlet pert for muflling the sound of the entering alr.

p In testimony whereof We ailix our signatures.

JOSEPH C. RHODES.

GEORGE E. GUFFEY. JAMES G. SHEEHAN. 

